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Thursday, December 29, 2005
Top Mindanao communist leader yields
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A senior leader of the communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels surrendered to the authorities in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines, officials said.
Officials said Merno Mingo, alias Ka Benzar Tata, of the Front Kara Committee, is being investigated by the military for his role in NPA operations in the South.
Mingo told the military that he surrendered to avail of the government amnesty program. Officials said more rebels, attracted by the amnesty offer, are likely to surrender soon.
He said he joined the NPA in 1998 and was involved in many anti-government operations in the region.
"Many rebels are disillusioned and disgruntled with their ideology. They surrender and start a new life with their families, and we welcome them to the fold of the law," said Army Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon, the commander of the 1st Infantry Division.
Under the amnesty program called Balik-Baril, which means "Bring a Rifle Improve your Livelihood," the government pays as much as P25,000 ($470) for weapons surrendered by rebels, aside from at least P18,000 ($338) in initial aid.
Those who surrender also undergo livelihood training of their choice.
Army chief Hermogenes Esperon ordered commanders to intensify the government's amnesty program to convince the rebels to abandon their armed struggle and return to the fold of the law.
The NPA, armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF), is fighting the past three decades to topple the government and install a Maoist state in the country.
The United States and the European Union blacklisted them on Manila's prodding and have included them in the foreign terrorist lists and froze its assets abroad.
Peace talks between government and rebel leaders collapsed last year after the CPP-NDF insisted that President Gloria Arroyo asks the United States and the European Union to strike them off from the terror lists.
(December 29, 2005 issue)
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